Rockets forward Tari Eason has switched agents. Eason is signing on with Wasserman, his new agency has announced (Twitter link).
Excel Sports Management had served as Eason’s prior representation to this point. Per Liz Mullen of The Sports Business Journal, Thad Foucher and Chafie Fields will be his Wasserman reps.
The 6’8″ forward out of LSU appeared in all 82 games for Houston in 2022/23, averaging 9.3 PPG, 6.0 RPG, 1.2 SPG, 1.1 APG and 0.6 BPG off the bench.
There’s more out of Houston:
- 2022 Rockets lottery pick Jabari Smith Jr. is switching his jersey number ahead of his second NBA season, from No. 1 to No. 10, per Jonathan Feigen of The Houston Chronicle. Smith had worn No. 10 while at Auburn, but former teammate Eric Gordon had already staked his claim to that number prior to Smith’s arrival. With the veteran shooting guard now on the Clippers, a path has been cleared for Smith to secure his former college digits.
- New Rockets head coach Ime Udoka was brought aboard after thorough vetting from Houston decision makers. Kelly Iko of The Athletic takes a deep dive into the process of bringing the former Celtics head coach to the Rockets, who also seriously considered former Lakers head coach Frank Vogel and ex-Hornets head coach James Borrego. Houston was said to be intrigued by the quick, strong bond Udoka had forged with Boston players during his lone NBA Finals-bound with the club.
- In a separate piece, Iko spoke with various scouts around the league about several possible free agent targets for the Rockets this summer. Iko took a look at former Houston guard James Harden, who won an MVP in 2018 with the Rockets, and restricted Lakers free agent Austin Reaves. Veteran forwards Draymond Green and Harrison Barnes, along with Bucks wing Khris Middleton, were also examined.
Please no Rockets, not Harden! In theory, for the Rockets to sign a veteran guard, they have to trade away some surplus of guards on their current roster.
It just goes to show how low the Rockets have sunk under this owner…
The only person that might go there is Harden… And that’s just for a payday and to return to his favourite clubs in Houston… Not to play basketball…
Houston needs to stick to the process but all NBA teams have to pay a certain amount of Salary. So someone will get paid well in Houston that may never have got the money elsewhere. Grant Williams may be the guy since he has played for the coach.
I was thinking the exact same thing. I highly doubt Boston offers Grant Williams what he wants, and Houston offers familiarity and they have the money⁷7 to blow.
Actually, after this draft, because they could really use one more foundational piece.